MUNCIE, Ind. — A regional sports bar chain will open its first Muncie location just in time for the best part of college basketball season.

Wings Etc. will open to the public on Feb. 26, in the 4,800-square-foot space of Northwest Plaza's east side, the space closest to Wheeling Avenue.

Franchise owner Brooklyn Fell said the kitchen is all set, and training for staff will run Monday through Friday of this week. As of Sunday afternoon, the space, which previously held kids' clothing store Once Upon A Child, had been almost fully transformed into a cozy sports bar atmosphere, just awaiting the final touches and decorations.

Lucky for sports fans, especially those excited for March Madness, the setup includes 34 — that's right, 34 — plasma television screens.

The Muncie Wings Etc. location will seat 182, with family-friendly seating divided from a bar that seats 22, and includes a wheelchair-friendly section. The restaurant's menu includes wings, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, nachos, ribs, salads, desserts and kids' meals. The bar will have 20 taps of domestic and craft beers.

Still in its early stages is the restaurant's outdoor patio, which will seat more guests along the building's east side during warmer weather. Fell said most of the patio will be covered. A garage-style door near the back will open to the outside.

The hiring period for the restaurant's opening has ended, though Fell said her team is always accepting applications.

Wings Etc. has more than 60 locations, according to its website. Other nearby Indiana locations include Kokomo, Bluffton, Noblesville and multiple spots in Fort Wayne, where the corporate office is. Fell told The Star Press in December that the company opened 14 new Wings Etc. locations in 2018 and expects to open nearly 10 new stores this year.